Abstract
Simple SummaryThe present review updates the current knowledge about the beneficial effect of licorice supplementation in poultry diets, particularly its positive effect on the treatment of high-prevalence diseases of the immune system, liver, and lungs.Supplementation of livestock and poultry diets with herbal plants containing bioactive components have shown promising reports as natural feed supplements. These additives are able to promote growth performance and improve feed efficiency, nutrient digestion, antioxidant status, immunological indices, and poultry health. Several studies have used complex herbal formulas with the partial inclusion of licorice. However, the individual use of licorice has been rarely reported. The major problem of the poultry industry is the epidemiological diseases, mainly confined to the respiratory, digestive, and immune systems. Licorice has certain bioactive components such as flavonoids and glycyrrhizin. The roots of this herb contain 1 to 9% glycyrrhizin, which has many pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antiviral, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice extracts (LE) have a positive effect on the treatment of high-prevalence diseases such as the immune system, liver, and lung diseases. Studies showed that adding LE to drinking water (0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 g/L) reduced serum total cholesterol (p < 0.05) of broiler chickens. Moreover, LE supplementation in poultry diets plays a significant role in their productive performance by enhancing organ development and stimulating digestion and appetite. Along with its growth-promoting effects, licorice has detoxifying, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other health benefits in poultry. This review describes the beneficial applications and recent aspects of the Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) herb, including its chemical composition and role in safeguarding poultry health.
Highlights
Medicinal plants have gained great popularity for their several beneficial applications in animals, poultry, and humans [1,2]
This review describes the beneficial applications and recent aspects of the licorice herb, including its chemical composition, health benefits, and useful applications for nutritionists, physiologists, scientists, pharmacists, veterinarians, pharmaceutical industries, and poultry breeders
Previous phytochemical analysesActivities have revealed that the bioactive components of the licorice root include, glycyrrhizic acid,components liquiritigenin, Previousflavonoids phytochemical analyses have revealed that the bioactive of triterpenes the licorice, and saponins, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties root include flavonoids, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, triterpenes
Summary
Medicinal plants have gained great popularity for their several beneficial applications in animals, poultry, and humans [1,2]. The addition of feed additives and nutritional supplements, including prebiotics, plant extracts, and probiotics, in the diets of birds are gaining wide attention owing to their multiple beneficial applications while enhancing growth performances and production as well as safeguarding the health of poultry [1,3,4,5]. This review focuses on the use of herb licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) as a feed additive in poultry, a popular traditional medicinal plant that belongs to the legume family Fabaceae [6]. It is broadly used in the medicine sector, as a flavouring and food preservative agent and for commercial purposes [7]. We can safely assess and get a new vision for further research on licorice benefits in poultry nutrition and its effects on the growth and productive performance and immune and antioxidant status of poultry
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